House Democrats failed to override Gov. John Carney’s veto on legal marijuana possession on Tuesday night, resulting in a stunning blow to legalization efforts.

This was the closest Delaware has been in a decade to legalizing and creating a recreational marijuana industry. It’s unclear what the path forward will be, especially as Carney remains in office until 2025.

With the failed override attempt, Rep. Ed Osienski, who has spearheaded legalization efforts, said he will not make another attempt to resuscitate the bill to create a recreational marijuana industry in Delaware. This bill failed due to Rep. Larry Mitchell, House majority whip, being ill and he could not vote virtually.

The veto attempt failed on Tuesday night because several Democrats either voted no or did not vote at all. The vote needed 25 votes, but ultimately only reached 20. When the legislation passed in May, 26 lawmakers supported it.

Three Democrats – Reps. Andria Bennett, William Carson and Sean Matthews – voted no on the veto vote, despite voting for the bill previously. Two Republicans, Rep Jeff Spiegelman and Mike Ramone, did the same.

House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst, who was a co-sponsor on the original bill, did not vote. [Read more at Delaware News Journal]